Graduation isn't something that happens every day, and it certainly isn't an accomplishment that everyone has the opportunity to achieve in their lifetime. However, it is a very special occasion that enables graduates to brush away the strain of years of labour and rejoice with their friends and family members who have travelled on this journey with them.

Credits Needed

In order to graduate, students must meet a minimum number of credit requirements. These requirements, set by regional accrediting agencies, vary by school, but they often include core curriculum, major and general education courses.

It can be challenging to keep track of graduation requirements when you are juggling prerequisite classes and major/minor coursework. It’s also important to avoid dropping or withdrawing from courses, as these may impact your GPA and financial aid status.

Educators can help students stay on track by using resources like college readiness guides to map out their academic journey. These tools can help students see the path to graduation, and highlight any obstacles that they need to overcome.

For example, if a student is not on pace to finish their degree within four years, the guide will alert them by color-coding sections that need work. The new guide also includes information about financial aid and career options.

Required Courses

Students must pass required courses to graduate. These requirements are set by their schools and include a minimum number of credits in core subjects like English language arts, math and science as well as required classes related to the student’s major or minor areas of study. Students may also need to pass a variety of assessments such as Regents exams or NYSED-Approved Pathway Assessments in the subject areas of English language arts, math, science and social studies or complete a comparably rigorous pathway assessment in one of the arts or world languages.

Keeping track of these requirements can be tricky, especially for high school students. A tool called Degree Planner allows students and advisors to chart a course to graduation. The program lets students know if they’re on pace to complete their graduation requirements, and shows which courses they have already taken, those they still need and the recommended sequence of taking those classes. It also displays college matches and provides information on careers that may be of interest to the student.

State Standards

Aside from credits, many schools also have requirements to meet for graduation. For example, New York students must pass a series of Regents exams to graduate. Educators believe that these rigorous exams help prepare students for college and the workforce.

However, research shows that high-level academic content can be taught in a variety of ways beyond traditional test-prep classes. Alternatives include hands-on science lab courses, project-based learning and performance assessments. Moreover, survey participants ranked skills like collaboration, communication and self-management as the most important lifelong learning abilities.

To graduate on time, it's a good idea to take prerequisite and major/minor requirements as early as possible. Avoid dropping and withdrawing from classes unless necessary, as this may impact your progress. Additionally, it's best to save elective classes for the last few years of school. If you are interested in taking a class, it's helpful to use a tool such as Degree Planner to see how it will affect your graduation path.

Graduation Ceremony

The graduation ceremony is a time for friends and family to celebrate with the graduate. It is also a moment to remember the journey and to reflect on all that they have achieved together. Often the ceremony marks a transition point, with graduates moving on to new ventures or further studies.

At this event, diploma qualifications to be met for graduation are usually announced and the graduates walk across the stage to shake the Chancellor's hand and receive their cylinder/diploma. The ceremony is typically closed with a keynote speech by an influential person or by the valedictorian of the class.

It is a good idea to send invitations well in advance, so that the graduates can make arrangements with their families. It is also a good idea to give the students an option of ordering customized invitations that add a special touch. This can be done through an online platform dedicated to graduation ceremonies. This can help the organisers avoid unnecessary costs and save time in the process.